Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-01-20
WASHBURNE'S BOOK.
GREAT INDIGNATION IN FRANCE OYER
HIS "REMINISCENCES.
SshOus Charges Made by Russian 0tkcial-
hr. 6osthen's Speech ST Evrpool-ne Sit
uatiOn in The English Political Field
General Foreign Dispatches

PARIS, January l9-The publication in
Sevibaer's Magazine Of ex-Minister WASH
burne's "Reminiscences Of the Siege and
Commune Of Paris" has created good
deal Of indignation in France, and the COM
ment of Le Figaro, "Mr Washburne shows
very little sympathy for US" may be fairly
accepted as expressing the general senti.
ment here. In retaliation for what the
French consider rs uncalled-for insinua-
tions in the "Reminiscences, Mr.. WASH
burne's record as Minister of the United
States in Paris during the siege of the city
has been overhauled, and some Of the
stories told in connection with his action
during those troublous times, il true, do
not rebound exactly TO his credit rs tho
diplomatist Of friendly power. The most
compromising Of them has been told by
Prince De Wittgeastein, who was military
attache to the Russian Legation in Paris
during the siege, and who occupied tho
same relation TO the French aud German
armies, as q bond Of communication, that
Mr.. Washburne did TO the diplomats shut
up in Paris and the German Chancellor.
The Princes story is well worth repeating,
ifonly To give Mr.. Washburne q chance to
contradict it, or Ia include il in the next
batch of "Reminiscences.
MYSTERIOUS VISITORS.
Before and during the siege Of Paris tho
Prince De Wittgenstein, who is the husband
of the Princes DE Mingclie, had his official
residence ut No. 10 Champs Elysees. One
day, he says, two ladies appeared aud de-
liyered to his valet two letters, accompanied
by two louis. The letters were addressed
to relatives of the ladies in the provinces,
aud tho Russian General was souewh hat
astonishcd when his valet presented them
to him with the gold. lie began 10 snitf
n mystery, but IL was insolnblc Ia hun un-
ill the following day, when the ladies APP
peared again and asked for the return Of
the letters and the money. They told tho
Prince that they had made mistake.
They had been informed that he made of
himself kind of German postoffice; that
he exchanged letters daily with Versailles,
and that Oh the payment of ~ frances
(about four dollars he used his facilities
To forward letters through the German
lines 70 the Provinces. But said the
spokesman of the two, 1--WE have made .
mistake. II is in the Rue dc Chaillot, at
the United States Legislation, that tho
letters are takcn.'
SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST wAsHBuRNE.
The Prince says that he returned the
letters and the money and decided TO ser
if the story of the woman was true, The
next day and for several days later, IN
order to satisfy himself, he sent letters
and twenty franc pieces Ia the Legation
presided over by Mr.. Washburnc, who
pockcted the louis and sent forward the
letters. Mr.. Washburne, IL IL asserted,
took no pains Ia find out what the letter
contained, and, for all he knew, iniorma-
ton to the German commanders bcsieging
Paris, OF the condition Of the defense.
might have been sent out daily through
his profitable posioilicc. How much
money he made by this thrifty but
scarcely diplomatic stroke Of business no
body but himself knows; but for the truth
of the story the Prince De Wittgenstein
stands ready 10 vouch.